This Is Life!

Life is so crazy and fun, it feels like once you finish one thing it's time to start another adventure! Don't get me wrong, I love down time and taking a break, but after this past week of having nothing to do, or anywhere to be, I was anxious to get some structure back in my life! Here are some things I've been up to lately:

• Yesterday was my first day back at CUE, and I loved it! I work for a special ed transition school (college-age students) in Provo School District. This year things are changing a little bit and I'm very excited. I get to teach set classes everyday! Twice a week I will teach Beginning Dance and Aerobics (I know, I'm not really fit out to teach either of those but I will make it work!), Functional Technology (ps I broke the copy machine today, it's an omen), Microwave Cooking (I'm way good at this), and Daily Living Skills (I'm pretty good at this too, I've survived on my own 3 years now!). On top of this, I think I'll be the Student Government Adviser again this year. I'm excited!
• Books will cost me $300 this Fall semester if I buy them ALL used or online. Ridiculous!
• I got a new calling: Activities Co-Chair!
  
• I got a new roommate (she's a sweetheart!), and another on the way!
  
• I've gone to Seven Peaks 6 times this summer! Trying to use my summer pass as much as possible :) One of the best trips was when I took Rakel and Raulito (two darling kids I babysit, I worked with their parents at Golden Corral). Seeing their faces light up felt like Christmas. Another good trip was yesterday, I went with my aunt Cassi and uncle Kevin, aunt Brenda, and their kids, and Kayzer, and it was super sweet!
  
• I've been able to visit my family a lot lately! In the past week I went home three times (and slept over twice)! It's nice because this fall will be very busy and I won't have time to go often.
• Mom's birthday was August 11, we went to the Thai place in Sandy (delicious), I finished finals August 12 (and passed!), and then had a week off.
• I saw Harry Potter 6, and I highly recommend it.
• I FINISHED PRACTICUM!!! And passed, with flying colors might I add (if this list were in order of importance, this would be first. Biggest accomplishment of the summer)
• I went to Lake Powell with the family for a week. A week of relaxation! It was great, and when I have pictures I will post them.
• My roommates and I went to the temple last night-I was so thankful because I've been wanting to go!
• I quit Golden Corral!!! 3 years of working there, I will definitely not miss it, except the money part was good...
  

Here are some realizations I've come to recently:

• Family is the best! When it comes down to it, they're the people that care the most about you and love you no matter what.
  
• I will never be able to repay my mom for everything she does for me. She is always there for me and has done so much (besides birthing me and raising me) and is the most patient person ever! If I'm half as good a mom as she is, my family will be lucky!
• The best medicine is service.
• Roommates are heaven-sent. Late night ice cream parties, redbox runs, sleepovers, and chick flicks never get old and are necessary in life. My roommates especially are amazing, they will drop anything they are doing (including boyfriends!) if needed.
  
• Primary answers are still the basis of the gospel and work at every stage of life.
• It's important to take people's advice, especially if they care about you. They're always right...
• Everything in life is for our experience! D&C 122: 7-9
• I have a passion for teaching. When I'm teaching, everything else seems to disappear and all I care about is my student's success.
• Small and simple decisions make us who we are.
• This was a summer of accomplishment for me. I did things I never thought I would achieve...and I survived it all.
• I have great friends.

~ash~